Sallah: Recreational parks deserted as residents flood malls, ram stalls

There was a low turnout at major recreational parks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday as Muslims celebrated Eidel-Kabir.

However, most shopping malls and ram markets in the city were flooded as residents rushed to make late buys.

City News also observed that there was no heavy presence of security operatives at some Eid praying grounds and strategic locations in the city as witnessed in the past.

Grand Towers, Apo and some shopping malls in Gwarinpa were filled as at 11a.m. while several residents were also seen at the ram markets buying rams to meet up with the Eidel-Kabir rites.

A ram seller at a ram market at Gudu Cemetery Roundabout, Abubakar Mohammed said he sold more rams yesterday morning than he had sold since he got to the market two days earlier.

A resident, Alhaji Olanipekun Moshudi said the rush could be connected to the late payment of September salary.

Meanwhile, Millennium Park, Magic Land and some recreational parks at Kubwa and Lokogoma as at noon yesterday were without the usual pomp that characterized festive seasons.

A recreational park operator at Lokogoma, James Ude was, however, optimistic that people would still turn out for the parks.

“It is a long holiday, they have till Sunday to enjoy themselves, so why the rush?” he asked.

Hussein Bolaji, a resident also collaborate James, saying he planned visiting parks with his family on Friday.

“Most people would be tired from the early prayers, ram slaughtering and cooking,” he said.